Jury hears phone call in Lex man's rape call

John Slone listens intently as a recording of a telephone call is played on computer speakers for the jury. The call was from Slone’s alleged victim, trying to get Slone to admit he molested him.(Photo: Dave Polcyn/News Journal photos)Buy Photo

MANSFIELD – Near the end of a 51-minute controlled phone call, John Slone apologized to an 18-year-old man.

"I'm sorry for the sex," he said.

Richland County Assistant Prosecutor Gary Bishop played the call for the jury on Friday morning, the second day of Slone's trial.

Slone, 41, of Lexington, is charged with eight counts of rape and eight counts of sexual battery. Set up by Lexington police, the controlled phone call was between Slone and the alleged victim, who was 16 when the alleged abuse began.

The teen was emotional at times, making his words difficult to understand. He repeatedly pleaded with Slone to apologize, alternately threatening suicide or to press charges if he did not.

"All I want is for you to apologize to me. ... I'm going to kill myself one day," the teen said. "I have no self-esteem, no self-confidence. I can't be around people."

Slone replied, "I'm sorry."

Tearfully, the teen said, "Sorry for what?"

Slone said he wanted to talk to the teen in person, but the 18-year-old refused.

"Did you or did you not molest me? Tell me!" he said.

Slone said he was not saying anything over the phone.

The 18-year-old continued to press, leading to Slone's apology for the sex.

In his opening statement, defense attorney Jeff Uhrich had told jurors to consider the context of the apology. Uhrich said his client apologized out of exasperation.

On cross-examination, the teen told Uhrich he couldn't specify when the reported abuse occurred.

Prosecutors allege it happened between April 1, 2011, and June 1, 2013.

Lexington police Officer Jon VanHouten, the lead investigator in the case, was with the teen at the police station when the call was made. He said he had him end the call after Slone apologized for the sex.

"I felt that was enough," VanHouten said. "It was time to get off the phone. He had been through 51 minutes of hell rehashing all of this."

The day after the controlled phone call in March, Slone talked to VanHouten.

"He was adamant that he never raped (the teen)," VanHouten said. "It was consensual."

On VanHouten's pocket recorder, Slone seemed reluctant to say the word "sex" and said there were fewer than 10 encounters. The teen estimated there were 100.

"I never force-raped, choked or beat (the teen)," Slone says in the recording.. "There was nothing forced whatsoever."

On cross-examination, Uhrich asked VanHouten about the interview room not having audio and video recorders.

"I did not know that," VanHouten said, referring to the lack of video recording. "I probably should have asked."

The trial will resume Tuesday before Common Pleas Judge James DeWeese. Slone will be on the stand under direct examination.